The Population vs.

The Sample

We will likely never know these

(population parameters - these
are things that we want to know
The population about in the population)
Number = N

Mean = 

Standard deviation = 

Cannot afford to measure

parameters of the whole population
 3 General Kinds of Sampling
1. Haphazard sampling
– Based on convenience and/or self-selection
– Street-corner interview, mall intercept
interview
– Television call-in surveys, questionnaires
published in newspapers, magazines, or
online
– Problem: not rigorous, not systematic, not
representative, not unbiased
 3 General Kinds of Sampling
2. Quota sampling
– Categories and proportions in the population
– More representative than haphazard sampling
– Interviewers have too much discretion
3. Probability sampling
– A sample of a population in which each
person has a known chance of being selected
– Basically an equal chance at the start
 Size of a Probability Sample
• Depends on:
– Accuracy (margin of error) typically +/-3%
– Confidence level: probability that the results
are outside the specified level of accuracy
– Variability: researchers usually assume
maximum variability for a binomial variable
• Does not depend on
– Size of the total population
Sampling Technique in Surveys
• Random sampling
– Telephone surveys: random-digit dialing
– Face-to-face surveys: too expensive and
time-consuming
• Multistage cluster sampling
– e.g. randomly choose 5 provinces, then 6
counties within each chosen province, and
then 4 villages within each chosen county
– Most practical for face-to-face surveys
 The Population vs. The Sample

We will likely never know these

(population parameters - these
are things that we want to know
The population about in the population)
Number = N

Mean = 

Standard deviation = 

Cannot afford to measure

parameters of the whole population
So we draw a random sample.
 The Population vs. The Sample

The sample
Sample size = n
Sample mean = x
Sample standard
deviation = s

Cannot afford to measure

parameters of the whole population
So we draw a random sample.
The Population vs. The Sample
Does  = x? Probably not. We
need to be confident that x does a
good job of representing .
The population
Number = N

Mean = 

Standard deviation =  The sample

Sample size = n
Sample mean = x
Sample standard
deviation = s
Connecting the Population Mean to the Sample Mean
How closely does our sample mean resemble the population mean
(a “population parameter” in which we are ultimately interested)?

Population parameter = sample statistic + random sampling error

(or “standard error”)

Random sampling error = (variation component) .

or “standard error” (sample size component)
Use a square-root
function of sample size
The sample
s = me Sample size = n
asure Sample mean = x
of vari
ation Sample standard
deviation = s
Standard error (OR random sampling error) = s .
(n-1)

Population mean = x+ s . The population mean likely falls within

(n-1) some range around the sample mean—
plus or minus a standard error or so.
To Compute Standard Deviation
• Population standard deviation

• Sample standard deviation

 Why Use Squared Deviations?
• Why not just use differences?
– Student A’s exam scores/(Stock A’s prices):
– 94, 86, 94, 86
• Why not just use absolute values?
– Student B’s exam scores/(Stock B’s prices):
– 97, 84, 91, 88
– Which one is more spread out /unstable /risky
/volatile?
 is the formula for:

A.Population standard deviation

B.Sample standard deviation
C.Standard error
D.Random sampling error
E.Population mean